September 1944: Innocent civilian victims on the Eikenlaan

On Sunday, 17 September 1944, the Allies bombed the various barracks in Ede – and many bombs hit Ede itself. In the afternoon, the Germans in the barracks observed the airborne landings at Renkum and Wolfheze, after which German reinforcements from Amersfoort arrived in Ede. During the evening and night, heavy fighting broke out between the Germans and the British airborne troops who were now gathered at Ginkel Heath.

On 18 September, German troops, in a panic, set fire to equipment and barracks buildings. Following this, people from Ede started to plunder these barracks. Lorry driver Van de Kuit was caught in the act by a German soldier who tried to stop him. With a quick move, Van de Kuit grabbed the German’s gun and threw it away, then ran off. The angry German threw a hand grenade after Van de Kuit, who was seriously wounded by this. He managed to escape despite his wounds, but died shortly afterwards. A few Dutch boys had seen all this happen and hid the gun.

The theft was reported to SS Obersturmführer Labahn, the local German military commander. Labahn was angry and threatened to kill ten Dutch citizens in reprisal. He sent out a motorised patrol to investigate the situation.

Meanwhile two Dutch ladies, Ms De Mildt-Scheffers (53) and Ms Teljer-Kraai (31), were taking a stroll before the curfew began at 8 pm: starting at Villa Silva Sanat on Stationsweg, then by way of Ericalaan, Artillerielaan and back again via Eikenlaan.
At the corner of Artillerielaan and Eikenlaan the ladies saw the German motorised patrol approaching. Quickly they hid behind some bushes, but it was too late. The Germans had spotted them and they sprayed the bushes with machine-gun fire. Ms de Mildt-Scheffers was killed on the spot and Ms Teljer-Kraai died later. The Germans excused the incident with a lie: ‘The women were plundering and were outside after the curfew.’

Then, two people who happened to be passing by were arrested. They were the first of the ten citizens in total who were to be shot in reprisal for the stolen weapon. But Police Commissioner Hulsman was able to persuade Labahn, the local military commander, to wait a little. At the urging of Hulsman, the next day a local resident revealed the location of the stolen gun and the Germans then dropped the matter.

There is a small copper plaque on the bench at the corner of Klinkenbergerweg and Eikenlaan, commemorating the two innocent women. Every year around 18 September, one can see a bouquet of flowers lying there….

Do you want to experience this story in its original location? Then visit the information panel at the intersection Eikenlaan- Klinbergerweg, Ede, next to the bench in the northeast corner of the intersection.